Eerie!

G went to the hospital for his leg check & was found to be "magnificent!"
I've done the washing - the clean bed smelt like  a Vietnamese sweat house after one night of G exuding spices through every pore - washed everything removable , line dry & hope for the best.
Last cards delivered & the wrapping started.
I had a quick clean at church & turned the Christmas tree lights on, ready for the school carol service this evening, on the way round with the cards.
A few responses to the New Year's day - year of austerity, invitations, so we wont be alone.

The family are coming to lunch on Sunday, food to think about.
Dentist in the morning, then a bit of shopping to finish - all good fun, I hope, & no cavities!

Watching "The Frozen Planet" - recorded to watch with G.
Amazing.

The eagle has landed.

George is home, not well-tanned & leaner, as anticipated, but about the same colour, a pound or two heavier, smelling Vietnamese & asleep in the chair, computer on his lap.
It's good to have him home & a relief to have those big decisions about driving taken away.
He has had a good time & plans a return.

We went to church this morning & turned all of the Christmas tree lights on - he was impressed.
We came home & changed & went to The Probus lunch at Maxstoke Golf Club, guest of the deputy chairman (Maurice)
Lots of locals,retired & elderly.
We were like Peter Pans!
Home at tea-time & have since chilled, in front of a good fire.
Time for bed - better wake G up.

Mid Advent.

Church, church, church.
Another day from 9.00am until3.00pm, chatting & serving teas & cake.
Not as good a turnout as hoped for, but a lot of good contacts made/remade & more people expected tomorrow, tree decorators & families.
Eventually ate yesterday's dinner at tea time, had a nap & have just finished tomorrow's sermon.
Does anyone know the postage to USA, Australia & Sri Lanka.
I have stamps (86p???), but don't know if anything has changed.
On line is useless, or I am.
I can't find out & missed the PO.
Wrapping & cards to do.

Is David Cameron a hero?

Perhaps I need chocolate.

Lit up.

I thought you would find my days lacking in excitement, so fear to blog.
Anyway, a quick resume of the last two days - mornings catching up , preparing notes for Sunday's sermon, e mails, post, etc.
I have spent both afternoons from noon until 7.30pm, at church, so that those who have paid for a Christmas tree, can come & decorate them.
This has been a great success, people there most of the day, helping, sharing, drinking coffee & clearing up.
The church is now lit by18 trees, 17 beautifully decorated, plus the one I did, on a high window sill - I'm really pleased with the result.
Yesterday was very cold, today a degree warmer - I wore a lot of clothes!
One large tree left to be potted & decorated, then we're open all weekend, serving teas & Christmas cakes - fruit, pannetone, pandoro, stollen chocolate logs & mini rolls for the kids.

Lady Dugdale popped in for coffee this morning, for an hour, as she had been not been able to attend the "Coffee & Cakes" morning. She is charming - her son was at school with W.
Not fallen asleep yet - no milky drink as I left the milk at church.
Bother.

Tuesday already.

Never start to watch a film after the news or you end up staying up half the night to watch the end.
I really wish that I was in bed, asleep, not watching "Cracker".
A busy day - played tennis in gloves, 4 degrees!
I have never played in gloves before; it's better than freezing hands.
On to church for delivery of the Christmas trees, Maurice & I put them in & I put cables around for the lights, as far as I could - more needed. Maurice is making stands for them, so on hold now until done.
I've just had a go at the 2011 missive.
I really don't like them at all.
Should I copy/send it or not bother?
I can have a lie-in tomorrow, today.
Great.  

PS. I've been filling in dates on 2012 calendar, amazingly, most of the family birthdays fall on weekends - my generation - all of us - G, M, AJ & me, that's 4/4
                   children/spouses - B, E,   that's 2/8
                   grandchildren - KP, T, Th, H&S, J, O.  that's 7/9.
All of the B&E family, all of J&G's children & all of my generation.
Total of 13/21, statistically, surely this should be 2/7, ie 6/21.
Just an observation

Partying.

I settled for roast pork & laying tables in the dining room & kitchen, 22 in all.
I've just had another "booking", so have to find somewhere for another seat, not to mention finding another chair.
Tables are laid, apple sauce & stuffing balls made so the rest is almost plain sailing - I have to take the 11.00am service at NW.
Thankfully, aj's here & a whizz-kid with a vegetable knife.
We went to the Pear's party this pm - very good, chatted to friends & met some new folk.
I went to the hairdressers first thing & glammed up a bit.

I'm watching some rubbish Tv as there's a big Christmas cake in the oven, which won't be cooked until after midnight - I'll have a look in a minute & make a trifle.

Cold this evening - I've put the geraniums in the factory whilst looking for chairs.
I found four - two with saggy bottoms, two with damp bottoms - sounds like a Mothers' Union!!

White Rabbits!

Have you eaten your first Advent calendar chocolate yet?
I haven't.
I haven't got one - no change there.
G once bought me a Hotel Chocolat one, I recall.

I returned from Bicester this afternoon, having had an excellent couple of days.
T, KP & I went to The Theatre, Chipping Norton on Wed. to see Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves.
It was brilliant, the theatre was beautifully decorated with Arabian style hangings & lamps; a funny, colourful traditional pantomime.
We read the story on-line the previous evening, T & KP were engrossed.
We had a light lunch in CN, then went to Bicester Garden Centre - their forest of Christmas trees is lovely - then Tesco, to choose tea, then home to tea before taking T to Beavers.
KP talked non-stop about Ali Baba & Cassim for the entire hour that T was out.
Today  I went to Bicester Village, mainly to see the new Lalique shop, then picked Gina up & had a lovely lunch with two daughters- in- law at a great new Italian restaurant in Bicester.
When I took G home, J gave me a consultation on my sore thumb, then I dashed home, to go to Costco with Jan.
Unfortunately, she couldn't make it & I'd not picked up the e-mail.
Never mind.
I have lots to do before Sunday, when there are 22 people coming for a fund-raising lunch.
I was intending to do roast pork & lay up tables, but I think that the limit for seating is 18.
Rethink!

Gym , then J & Th pick up tomorrow, then a fashion Show in NW.
Hairdressers on Sat am, early, cooking for Sunday, then a party at the Pears at 2.00pm.
Hopefully, aj is coming.
Christmas trees arriving at church on Mon am, 17 , to be potted/stood up, somehow, & positioned, with Maurice's help.

Weather has been mild & sunny, but a change is threatened tonight.
Better fill the hotty!

Why has this strange machine added  "amp" after every "&" in this blog?
Another of life's little mysteries.